Chico >> New York Times best-selling author Mary Roach will visit Chico State University in February, appearing at Laxson Auditorium as the President’s Lecture Series Speaker.

The author, who has written about the lives of the deceased, living on Mars and how science addresses the afterlife, will speak at the university on Feb. 5 for the lecture series, which brings “captivating and illuminating speakers who offer distinct perspectives to their subject matter” to campus, according to a university press release.

“Mary Roach takes unique and intriguing topics and explores them with a blend of inquisitiveness, skepticism and humor,” University President Gayle Hutchinson said. “She cultivates curiosity and exemplifies it in action. I expect she will provide an entertaining evening filled with scientific revelation and a healthy dose of humor.”

Roach’s books regularly appear on the New York Times best-seller lists. Her works include “Gulp: Adventures in the Alimentary Canal,” “Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void,” “Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers,” “Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex,” and 2016’s “Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War.”

One of the nation’s leading science writers, Roach has authored pieces for National Geographic, Wired, The New York Times Magazine and Outside. She also does speaking engagements and has one of top 10 most-viewed TED talks ever.

Roach joins a prestigious list of past University Presidential Lecture speakers, which includes former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev, scientist and United Nations Messenger of Peace Jane Goodall, and author, playwright and TED speaker Eve Ensler.

“We work with the Office of the President to choose speakers for the President’s Lecture Series who are relevant to the time,” said Stephen Cummins, director of University Public Engagement and Chico Performances. “Our goal is to bring in well-rounded speakers so that they appeal to the community at-large, faculty and students.”

Roach will also hold a book-signing and interact directly with students during her visit.